What is ELSI ?

ELSI stands for Ethical, Legal,and Social Issues.

Science is the process of inquiry into the unknown. It begins with observation, followed by experimentation. Scientists formulate hypotheses, plan and conduct research experiments, evaluate their findings, and draw conclusions based on their results. It is both a process and journey into discovery.

Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues arise from almost every type of inquiry and research.

How will we use the information we obtain?
Will it create new materials, new inventions, or new products that will affect our lives?
Could some of those products be harmful, and if so, how do we control their use?
Is there a right or wrong in the types of experiments we want to do?
Does the answer depend on our personal or religious beliefs, on cost, or on other considerations?

Scientists often have as hard a time with these issues as you and I. Indeed, by using the process of inquiry and observation, scientists can easily run into to conflict with what is currently thought or believed. Sometimes their work leads to discoveries that can cause great good or great harm at the same time, e.g., nuclear reactions.

But in spite of this, history shows us that man has always pursued the unknown. Whenever a situation presented the possibility of discovery, of new knowledge, it always has been explored. Today we are faced with wide sweeping interest in exploring everything from the very large (our universe) to the very small (our genetic structure) and we have an amazing array of tools, from telescopes to electron microscopes, with which to inquire.

However, exploration today involves important decisions.

What is the best use of our resources?
How do we determine and value the possible benefits of scientific discovery?
In order to better understand and participate in this decision process, we need to educate ourselves in both science and the ethical, legal, and social issues of research.

This section is devoted to understanding some of issues which surround the types of science done at LBNL and other national laboratories. These topics are pertinent to work at other research facilities and private organizations as well. As part of our committment to science at LBNL, we actively encourage discussion and debate about these issues. In addition to providing information about our science, we offer information and additional resources for further inquiry into these topics, as well as materials for teachers to use in exploring these issues with junior and senior high school students. We hope you find this section helpful and informative. We welcome your comments and suggestions on our evaluation form.

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